October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for us to uplift the voices of survivors and supporters and engage in a national conversation about domestic violence to help change the narrative on this important topic. Conversations contribute to raising awareness, increasing donations and volunteer efforts, and deepening community engagement by connecting our work nationwide.
More prevalent than most people realize, about 41% of women and 26% of men experience sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual identity or orientation, or socio-economic status, could experience domestic violence. This October Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) is highlighting a pair of federal grants that make child support services safer for domestic violence survivors.
In September 2022, the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) awarded Section 1115 grants for the Safe Access for Victims’ Economic Security (SAVES) demonstration (PDF) to child support programs in twelve states and one tribe to support domestic violence survivors who need child support services but are unable to access them. OCSS also awarded a cooperative agreement (PDF) to Colorado to create a training, technical assistance, resource, and evaluation center. For more information on the SAVES federal grants, visit the Office of Child Support Services website.
Congress began recognizing the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness month in 1989 to raise awareness about domestic violence and unite organizations and individuals in the efforts to uplift the needs, voices, and experiences of survivors. To learn more about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, visit the Domestic Violence Awareness Project.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, free and confidential support is available 24/7. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or find local resources shared by Violence Free Colorado.
For local assistance and to learn more about the work being done in Colorado to help survivors of domestic violence and their families, visit Violence Free Colorado or the Rose Andom Center.
